Hugo Ekitike has rapidly established himself as a cult hero at Liverpool since his summer 2025 transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt for approximately £90 million. The French striker made an immediate impact, scoring just 228 seconds into his competitive debut against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. His decision to choose Anfield over Newcastle United, despite their pursuit, has endeared him to supporters. Ekitike stated, "I play for fans, they give me so much energy".
The 23-year-old has formed a strong partnership with fellow summer signing Florian Wirtz. The duo have combined for six goals this season, making them the Premier League's most prolific pairing. Ekitike recently scored a brace in Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Newcastle, taking his Premier League goal tally into double digits. He has registered 15 goals and four assists across all competitions this 2025/2026 season.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has compared Ekitike to Fernando Torres, citing similar goal-scoring styles. Michael Owen also likened him to Torres and Harry Kane, predicting he will soon rank among Europe's elite strikers.
